Business
‘We will start taking Bribe’ – FRSC officials protest salary debt
Some officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps have threatened to start obtaining bribe from motorists if they were not paid their November salaries and allowances before Christmas.
The aggrieved officials, who spoke with Punch, said the Federal Government had refused to offer any explanation for the non-payment.
An official, who identified himself only as Patrick, said the government had no excuse for refusing to pay them their salaries since the FRSC was a revenue-generating agency.
He said,
“The government is being very unfair to us. Christmas is next Sunday and many of us who are male officials have been asked to remain on the roads to ensure that the roads are safe.
“How can the agency ask me to spend Christmas on the road and at the same time deprive me of my salary?
“They should not turn corps officials into policemen because that is what will happen if we are not paid.”
Another female FRSC official, who claimed to be a single mother, said the non-payment of salaries had affected her, as she had not been able to do any shopping for her children ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s celebration.
She said,
“Everyone knows that the prices of goods increase during Christmas and that is why most people try to do their shopping early December. It is bad enough that we are witnessing a recession but the government should not worsen our condition by withholding our pay.
“What will I feed my children with this Christmas? Where will I get the money to take them out to have fun? They cannot tell us not to extort money from motorists and at the same time deprive us of our salaries. It is unfair.”
Another official, who gave his name as Abiodun, recalled that in five months, corps officials had been receiving salaries on the seventh day of the following month.
Abiodun said,
“There have always been bad eggs in the agency, but the fact that most officials are well paid sort of reduced the number of bad eggs.
“However, now that salaries are not being paid, the government seems to be giving officials the ‘green light’ to indulge in corrupt practices. You cannot flog me and ask me not to cry.”
However, the FRSC’s Head of Media Relations and Strategy, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, while reacting to the threat, said salary issue was not the fault of the agency but the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the platform through which Federal Government officials were paid.
He said, “The salary issue is from IPPIS and not from us; so, I suggest you get in touch with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The salary issue is being sorted out”
Business
Adron Homes Sets Strategic Direction for 2026 at National Business Convention
Adron Homes Sets Strategic Direction for 2026 at National Business Convention
Adron Homes has officially commenced its 2026 National Business Convention, themed “Breaking New Grounds, Beyond and Above 2.0,” reaffirming its commitment to innovation, growth, and leadership in Nigeria’s real estate sector.
The convention opened with a strategic address by the Chairman/Group CEO, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, who charged executives and managers across the organization to sustain excellence, embrace innovation, and drive sustainable expansion as Adron Homes strengthens its footprint nationwide.
Bringing together top executives, directors, and managers from across the country, the convention serves as a platform for strategic alignment, performance reviews, and planning for the 2026 business year.
At the session, the Executive Vice Chairman, Olori Aderonke Emmanuelking, presented the company’s overarching 2026 budget framework, outlining key growth priorities, operational benchmarks, and financial expectations designed to enhance efficiency and long-term value creation. The presentation underscored Adron Homes’ focus on disciplined planning and scalable impact.
Directors from various directorates also presented their 2026 budget proposals, highlighting expansion opportunities, operational optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to exceed previous performance milestones and deliver enhanced value to clients.
Participants described the discussions as insightful and energizing, noting the convention’s role in strengthening leadership engagement and reinforcing a unified growth vision across the organization.
Beyond budget deliberations, the convention features strategic training sessions led by senior executives to boost leadership capacity, operational effectiveness, and organizational readiness for the year ahead.
As “Breaking New Grounds, Beyond and Above 2.0” unfolds, Adron Homes continues to reinforce its brand as a forward-thinking real estate developer committed to innovation, sustainable growth, and transformative impact in Nigeria.
Business
U.S. Tech Powerhouse Joe Lonsdale Pumps $11.7M into Nigerian Defence Drone Startup and A Strategic Turning Point for African Security and Innovation
U.S. Tech Powerhouse Joe Lonsdale Pumps $11.7M into Nigerian Defence Drone Startup and A Strategic Turning Point for African Security and Innovation.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“How Terra Industries, Led by Gen-Z Founders, Aims to Secure Africa’s Critical Infrastructure with Homegrown Autonomous Systems.”
In a landmark development that could reshape Africa’s security technology landscape, American tech billionaire and Trump ally Joe Lonsdale has led a significant $11.7 to 11.8 million funding round into a Nigerian defence technology startup, Terra Industries (formerly Terrahaptix). The investment round, led by Lonsdale’s venture capital firm 8VC, marks one of the largest ventures into Africa’s nascent defence tech sector and signals growing global investor confidence in African innovation grounded in real security challenges.
This strategic infusion of capital has immediate geopolitical, economic and technological implications, but not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent. It offers hope that African nations can one day escape dependence on foreign military hardware by developing homegrown capabilities tailored to local realities.
Terra Industries: A Homegrown Response to African Security Needs.
Founded in 2024 by two young Nigerian entrepreneurs, Nathan Nwachuku (22) and Maxwell Maduka (24), Terra Industries is more than just a drone maker. Based in Abuja, the company develops and manufactures sophisticated autonomous systems (including long-range and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers and (UGVs) unmanned ground vehicles) designed to enhance surveillance, threat detection and response in areas where traditional security forces are overstretched.
According to official statements, Terra’s systems are already deployed to protect critical infrastructure valued at an estimated $11 billion, including hydropower plants in Nigeria and mining operations (gold and lithium) in Ghana. These are facilities that form the backbone of industrial expansion across West Africa but are increasingly vulnerable to insurgent attacks, sabotage and theft.
Terra’s mission encapsulates a pivotal shift: “to give Africa the technological edge needed for resource protection and counterterrorism,” co-founder Nwachuku emphasized, underscoring the urgency of addressing insecurity if economic progress is to endure.
Joe Lonsdale and 8VC: Strategic Capital Meets African Security Tech.
Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir Technologies and founder of 8VC, has long been a driving force in the global defence-tech ecosystem. His involvement in Terra’s funding round highlights a new frontier: Africa’s security challenges as a technology market.
8VC’s broad investor base in this round includes heavyweight venture firms such as Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global and angel investor Meyer Malka. As noted by multiple reports, Alex Moore (a partner at 8VC and a non-executive director at Palantir) has also joined Terra’s board, signaling a deep and sustained commitment beyond mere capital.
This backing places Terra in an elite category of high-potential defence startups at a time when global investors are increasingly targeting deep tech and sovereign security solutions. According to TechCabal, Terra’s seed round “sets it apart from a wave of smaller regional players” and signals rapid growth in investor confidence in organisations that offer scalable hardware and software defence solutions.
In the words of a respected global security analyst, “Investment in Africa’s defence tech is a defining moment, where necessity intersects with innovation. Investors today recognise that insecurity is not just a social problem but an economic barrier that tech can help dismantle.”
Why This Investment Matters: Africa’s Insecurity Landscape.
Africa’s security environment has deteriorated sharply in recent years, especially across the Sahel and West Africa. Extremist groups, including factions linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda, have expanded operations from Mali through Burkina Faso to Nigeria. Governments struggle with stretched security forces, limited budgets and vast terrains that are difficult to monitor using conventional methods.
In this context, autonomous systems (drones, sensors, and networked defence platforms) can play a decisive role in deterrence, early warning and operational response. According to defence industry expert Dr. Marcus Rockefeller, “Autonomous technologies are the force multipliers of the 21st century. They allow nations with limited manpower to monitor vast areas, respond faster and reduce human risk in dangerous environments.”
Terra’s focus on integrating hardware and software into a comprehensive platform (reportedly including an operating system known as ArtemisOS) creates a sophisticated, unified battlefield picture that security forces can leverage in real time. This approach mirrors trends in Western defence tech but is uniquely tailored to African terrains and threats.
The Implications for Nigeria’s Industrial and Security Policy.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, has long battled domestic and regional security threats, from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast to banditry in the northwest. Despite decades of military spending, reliance on imported hardware and foreign training programmes, substantive progress has been elusive.
Terra’s rise signals a potent alternative: local innovation forging local solutions. As the World Bank notes, investment in technology and infrastructure resilience is essential for sustainable growth. Local manufacturing (especially in high-tech sectors) boosts job creation, builds technical ecosystems, and reduces dependency on external suppliers.
Professor Nkechi Onyema, an expert in African industrial development, observes: “When young Africans solve African problems, the solutions are not just technologically sound but contextually relevant. This is the moment Africa needs an era where we do not just import defence tech but pioneer it.”
What’s Next: Scaling, Security and Global Partnerships.
The new funding will be directed toward expanding manufacturing capacity, deepening Terra’s software capabilities, and supporting broader cross-border security and counter-terrorism deployments across Africa. Terra has signaled its ambition to become Africa’s first true defence prime which is a company capable of serving governments, infrastructure operators and strategic partners with scalable, sovereign technology.
Analysts say this model could reduce Africa’s reliance on foreign defence contractors and a dependency that historically left African governments beholden to external geopolitical interests.
Yet challenges remain: ensuring ethical use of autonomous systems, regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions and balancing defence and civil liberties remain complex. Still, as African security landscapes evolve, the need for smart, local and scalable solutions is undeniable.
Final Take.
Joe Lonsdale’s investment in Terra Industries is more than a financial transaction, though it is a strategic vote of confidence in Africa’s capacity to lead technologically in the face of its greatest security challenges. It is a call to action for governments, private sector partners and young innovators across the continent to unite around a shared vision: security forged with African ingenuity and global collaboration.
In the words of Terra co-founder Nathan Nwachuku, “The future of African security must be shaped by Africans. We are determined to lead that future with solutions that are powerful, affordable and built for us.”
This pivotal moment is not just about drones. It is about Africa asserting technological sovereignty and a future where African defence innovation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best.
Business
Adron CEO Restates Support for Traditional Institutions During Oyo Palace Visit
Adron CEO Restates Support for Traditional Institutions During Oyo Palace Visit
The Chairman, Adron Homes and Properties Limited, Aare Adetola Emmanuel-King, has reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s cultural diversity and traditional institutions during a courtesy visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I.
According to the Adron CEO, the visit reflects the company’s belief that national development must be anchored on respect for heritage, culture, and indigenous authority across all ethnic nationalities.
“Nigeria’s greatest strength lies in its diversity. At Adron Homes, we recognise that culture and tradition are not obstacles to development, but the very foundation upon which sustainable progress must be built,” Emmanuel-King stated.
He emphasised that Adron Homes’ engagement with traditional institutions is inclusive and nationwide, cutting across regions and ethnic lines as part of its broader vision for unity and shared prosperity.
“Our respect for traditional institutions is not limited to any one region. We honour royal fathers across Nigeria because they are custodians of our identity, values, and social stability,” he added.
The Adron Chairman noted that the company’s expanding footprint across several states continues to contribute to housing delivery, job creation, and economic empowerment, while aligning modern real estate development with indigenous values.
“We remain committed to building communities that serve present needs without eroding the cultural heritage that future generations must inherit,” Emmanuel-King said.
He further reaffirmed Adron Homes’ readiness to support initiatives that promote cultural preservation, tourism, and community development, stressing that collaboration between the private sector and traditional institutions is vital for inclusive national growth.
In his response, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, commended Adron Homes for recognizing culture and tradition as pillars of development, offering royal prayers for the company’s leadership, continued success, and the peace and unity of Nigeria.
The visit concluded with royal blessings and goodwill, reinforcing Adron Homes’ position as a corporate brand committed to cultural solidarity, inclusivity, and a diverse future for Nigeria.
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